Expert Software Engineer salary in Madison, WI
Based on 86 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Madison, WI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Verona, Middleton, Sun Prairie, Dodgeville, Fitchburg.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $130,894 |
| 25th | $130,894 |
| 50th (median) | $138,566 |
| 75th | $152,927 |
| 90th | $162,500 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $109,150 | $98,259 | $118,169 | 74 |
| FY2021 | $120,000 | $111,405 | $133,120 | 69 |
| FY2022 | $127,409 | $117,282 | $139,628 | 87 |
| FY2023 | $133,506 | $119,400 | $143,427 | 59 |
| FY2024 | $147,445 | $131,750 | $168,813 | 52 |
| FY2025 | $141,174 | $133,886 | $152,781 | 48 |
| FY2026 | $131,800 | $130,894 | $153,125 | 38 |
Cost of living
Madison's median expert Software Engineer salary of $138,566 is worth about $142,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Madison = 97.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Madison, WI area earned a median of $130,630 in May 2025 (6,720 employed). The H-1B median here is $138,566, 6% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. | $146,129 | 22 |
| Htc Global Services | too few | 6 |
| Lands' End | too few | 6 |
| Medica Services Company | too few | 5 |
| Symphony | too few | 3 |
| Deloitte | too few | 2 |
| QBE Insurance | too few | 2 |
| Springs Window Fashions | too few | 2 |
| Utica Mutual Insurance Company | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $94,765 | 56 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $105,653 | 276 |
| Senior · Level III | $124,800 | 135 |
| Expert · Level IV | $138,566 | 86 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $76,336 | $94,765 | 56 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $98,093 | $105,653 | 276 |
| Senior · Level III | $114,504 | $124,800 | 135 |
| Expert · Level IV | $130,894 | $138,566 | 86 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.